Chapter Eighteen
Courtney
Islept like shit. For as luxury as this place is, you’d think they’d have a decent couch in the rooms. Everything from my neck to my toes aches, and as soon as my eyes are open, I’m stumbling towards the shower. Or at least trying to.
When I make it to the bathroom door, I find it’s locked. I don’t know why I think jiggling the handle over and over will do anything though, maybe it’ll send a message to the asshole hogging the bathroom that other people have to live here.
“Occupied!” Landon calls out like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Get out. I need to take a shower,” I grouch through the door as I attempt to rub the knot in my neck free to no avail.
“You can wait a few more minutes, Court,” he calls back.
That fucking nickname sets my skin on fire, and I look around the room wildly for a tool. When I set my eyes on a bobby pin, success feels within reach. It only takes a few tries before I’m able to unlock the door handle and push my way into the bathroom.
“Get out,” I grumble.
The shower is floor-to-ceiling glass, fogged over with the steam from Landon’s shower. My aching muscles are begging to be beneath that warm water right now.
“What the fuck? Get out, psycho.”
I sigh and drop my hands by my sides. “Please, I’m asking nicely here. I slept like shit, my body hurts and I have to deal with an entire day of you. I need the relaxation.”
“Those all sound like you problems. Except the entire day with me… that’s a delight many would leap at the chance for.”
I scoff. “I didn’t see too many women leaping at the chance to lock in with you last night.”
Landon’s head peeks out from the corner of the glass wall. Shooting a pointed look at me, he snarls, “Yeah, and I saw the only guy you were invested in leave you in a big way for a major upgrade.”
Landon and I have verbally sparred since we first laid eyes on each other it feels like.
I throw blows; he throws them right back.
It’s like we don’t know how to talk without verbally eviscerating each other.
That, though? That was too far. He seems to know it too.
There’s a flicker of regret in his eyes the instant the words leave his mouth.
But he doesn’t try to take them back, and I wouldn’t accept it even if he did.
Fuck him and fuck this. I’m getting my shower.
I yank my shirt up and over my head before dropping my sleep shorts and panties. Normally, I think I’d feel a little shy, embarrassed at the least that I’m about to climb into a shower fully naked with a guy. Not right now, though. Right now, I’m fucking pissed.
I step into the shower, and he looks at me like I’m insane before his eyes begin roaming over my body.
I don’t like the feeling that comes over me as he stares at me, and I do my best to ignore him as I shove him to the side.
He stumbles a step or two but doesn’t put up too much of a fight at first, until he realizes I’m trying to fully take over.
His arm wraps around my torso, and he tries to drag me away from the water, but I slip out of his grip.
Landon doesn’t give up, though. He attempts to grab me again, this time succeeding before pinning my back against the wall.
Water pours down on us, him more than me, as he stares at me, his chest heaving.
His green eyes are darker than normal, and there’s something almost dangerous in them that has me swallowing roughly.
His gaze snaps to where my throat works before coming back to my eyes.
“What do you think you’re doing, Court?”
I grit my teeth. Fuck, I hate that name. So goddamn much.
I try to move out of his grasp, but he has me too tight. Glancing to the wall beside me, an idea hits me, and I smirk.
“Just trying to take a shower,” I say as I grab the handle and crank it to the hottest setting possible.
It takes a moment for Landon to fully grasp what I’ve done before his eyes widen and he lets out a string of curse words. He attempts to reach the handle to adjust it, and I turn to cover it, using my body as a shield. The hot water splashing off his body stings mine as he growls in pain.
When I don’t move, his hand sharply smacks my ass, sending my back arching as I press myself further against the wall. Shit. He smacks me again, this time making my pussy contract all on her own. Goddamnit. Now is not the time. Down, girl.
Finally, Landon gives up and jumps out of the shower, muttering under his breath about what a bitch I am. I’ll take it if it means I can shower in peace, though.
Once I’m sure he’s gone, I step away from the handle and turn the temperature down to a comfortable level, before enjoying the feel of the warmth on my skin.
Ah, good morning to me.
When I came back into my room, thankfully, Landon was nowhere to be seen. I was able to get dressed and ready for the day alone before slipping out into the kitchen, where again I was lucky enough to avoid him. Perfect. If I can just keep this up for the next few weeks, I’ll be golden.
I decide to make Luna and Shane some eggs and toast, and when they finally emerge from their room, still damp from their shower and looking entirely satiated, we all take a seat at one of the dining-room tables inside and begin eating.
“So, what do you think they have planned for us next?” Shane asks.
“I don’t know. With how the first few days are going, though, I’d say we’re in for a time,” I sigh.
Speak of the shit-news crew (that’s how I’m referring to the production crew these days)…
A woman comes over and smiles politely at us all. “We need you for a confessional.”
“You got a priest on staff?” I ask.
Clearly, my attempt at a joke goes right over her head because she just stares at me blankly.
Okay then.
I take one last bite of toast before I stand up and follow her to the video room. Taking a seat in front of the green screen, I look at the camera as she sits to one side behind it.
“So, Courtney. Last night was an emotional time. How are you?”
“Fine,” I say stiffly.
She’s quiet for a moment, then comes at it from a different way. “Explain to the audience what you’re feeling. What did you feel in that moment when Noah agreed to lock in with Savannah?”
I press my tongue to the inside of my cheek and shake my head. “I felt… pissed.”
“Okay… what else?” she pushes.
I stay silent, so she whispers to someone before handing me a tablet.
I click on what looks like a video and a dark room appears.
It’s one of the bunk rooms and clearly at night.
The first thing I hear are moans, followed by Noah saying my name and Savannah laughing, confirming it’s not me.
I watch with rapt attention as Noah then not only lets her continue but fucks her face.
The angles on the camera are just right so nothing is graphic, but the noises Savannah’s making leave nothing to the imagination.
When the video ends, I hand them back the tablet.
“How does seeing that first-hand make you feel?” the woman asks.
I know they want me to break down on camera.
They want me to become this sappy mess because it will make things more dramatic.
Normally, I’d rather swallow a bucket of nails than let my emotions show in front of others, but I don’t even have to fake it for the show.
My chest feels like it’s being ripped in two, and tears pour down my face as I look straight into the camera.
“I’m hurt. I came here not expecting much, especially not expecting to find a connection so soon,” I say, my tone eerily hollow and stiff despite the streams of tears soaking my cheeks. “I let my guard down too quickly, and now I’m paying the price.”
“He betrayed you, didn’t he?” the woman asks.
“Yeah, it feels like a betrayal. Sure as hell looks like one.” I laugh bitterly.
She nods sympathetically, or at least tries to appear sympathetic. I don’t buy it for one moment, honestly.
“You’re locked in with Landon now. Some would say you two have gotten off to a rocky start. Why did you choose him over Calvin?”
I think over my answer for a moment before I give the camera a shrug and the best smile I can muster.
“You know what they say, the line between hate and love is extremely thin.”
She smiles like that was the perfect thing to say before she nods and gestures for me to leave.
Thank God.
After I left the confessional room, I went back to my room to clean up the streams of mascara that streaked my face. I’m just finishing touching up my foundation when a knock sounds on the bedroom door. Hell, now what?
A camera guy pops his head in the room and smiles tightly. “Sorry. We need everyone outside.”
“Any spoilers you can give me on what to expect? I’m about sick of surprises at this point.”
He looks me up and down and shrugs. “You’re on the wrong show then, honey.”
With that, he’s gone, and I’m sighing as I look into the mirror. Yep. Figured as much.
When I make it outside, everyone is gathered around in a semicircle facing Alex, and all eyes are on me as I begrudgingly move to stand next to Landon. He doesn’t acknowledge me, and I don’t acknowledge him.
“Alright. We’re getting started today with your first challenge. We’ll go over all the details offscreen, so we’re just going to shoot the hot lines now.”
We all nod, and Daryll counts us down before Alex jumps into his over-the-top persona.
“It’s the first challenge of Locked In: Season One now that you’re all coupled up—are you all ready?”
“Yeah!” we all shout and smile simultaneously.
“Awesome! Now that you’re all locked in, we’re going to see how tight that lock is. This challenge is all about teamwork! The couple to make it through the obstacle course with the fastest time will win a one-of-a-kind date, and the bottom-two couples will be up for elimination.”